The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-17
FLOOD AND LIGHTNING.
Many Lives Lost, and Heavy
Damage to Property.
The Sufferers Spread Over a Wide
Range Of Country.


The recent storms have been followed by
floods which have done an immense amount
Of damage, principally in the Southern, Mid
die and Eastern States. The fatalities from
lightning have also been quite numerous.
The following dispatches from many points
all dated the 1st inst.-give a vivid idea Of
the injury to person and property done by
floods and lightning flashes:
Augusta, Ga: When the people Of Augusta
arose this morning and found the river reced-
ing and sinking back in its bed there was
general rejoicing The highest mark registered
was IS feet. All night the rainfall continued,
and at 10 o'clock this morning the register
at the bridge marked 81 feet 8 inches
All Of the northern part Of the city above
Cumming and north Of Broad streets is yet
under water. Great holes are washed in the
street and houses are undermined At the
upper end Of Greene street water is still flow
ing in through great break in the canal
bank, which occurred yesterday, but no
damage more serious than washing away q
few small houses and fences. At Lombard,
where the break occurred in the canal, the
water is ten feet deep, and factories are
flooded. All houses in the neighborhood
are flooded. The water is still over South
Commons. The losses will amount to mill
ion dollars. At a meeting Of the Council
this afternoon $1,000 was appropriated for
the sufferers. Business was partially resumed
to-day.
Wilkesbarre, Penn: The Valley Of Wy
oming was visited by great wind and rain
storm this afternoon which caused great
deal Of damage to property and resulted in
the loss of one life. There was cloud burst
at Parsons, three miles from here, and
creek passing through the village
overfowed and flooded the houses.
N. NJ. Rhoades, whose house stood
near the bridge, seized two Of his youngest
children and waded across the stream which
house, he removed his wife and other chill
dren. The Nanticoke division Of the New
Jersey Central Railroad, which runs from the
Baltimore to the Boston mine, a distance of
one mile and half, was washed away.
The iron bridge at the foot of the mountain
was carried away, as werethe wooden bridges
crossing the creek in the town. The loss Of
the Delaware and Hudson Company will reach
$4,000. Property in Parsons will suffer to
the extent of $40, 900. In this city the spire
Of the Puritan Congregational church was
ing huckleberries on the mountain and was
drowned
Binghamton, N. Y: Miss Bauchem, q
daughter Of George Bauchem, residing near
Great Bend Penn, was struck by lightning
and killed this afternoon. In company with
girl friend she was playing under large
tree when she was suddenly stricken. Her
friend received q severe shock, but is recov-
ering.
Lancaster, Penn: Another terrible storm
visited this section last night. Two large
ha1o fn ho
other to Henry Haller-were destroyed by
lightning. A dozen other buildings were
struck, but not destroyed. The fields and
roads in some sections were covered with
Reitzel and his wife, Of this city,
were knocked insensible by the lightning
and Mrs. Reitzel still suffers from the shock.
At the residence Of Zachariah Minnich, in
Lands Valley, lightning entered the chin.
ney, broke the dishes on the table and killed
dog under the table, but injured none Of
will reach many thousands Of dollars.
Albany, N. Y: After a brief thunder
shower yesterday bolt Of lightning de-
scendei from the almost cloudless sky, near
Clarksville, twelve miles from here. The
subsequent clap of thunder startled Albany.
The bolt struck a tree, into the adjacent
doorway of Elias Matthias, where Emma
Matn'dS WIS eCduuluS, dllu elL uCh nel oii
the right side of the head, burning Off the
hair. It then coursed down the body. Her
clothing was torn and loosened so that it
hung simply from the shoulders and her shoes
were torn in shreds The fluid also burned
both her legs from the knees to the foot. The
shock threw the young woman to the floor.
Mrs Matthias was also prostrated and one OF
her shoes was torn off, Other members Of
the family suffered temporary insensibility.
Miss Matthias, when picked up. was like a
piece Of marble statuary, SO white and rigid.
To-day she is recovering.
South Norwalk, Conn: Lightning struck
James Dillon's house yesterday and tore of
siding, demolishing the wall, and also struck
a Young lady on the road to Darien, killing
her instantly. Starr Keeler, while lowering
the sail on his boat, was also struck and was
rendered permanently blind.
WilIimantic, Gonna terrific thunder and
hail storm swept over the town Of Ashford,
sixteen miles north Of here, early yesterday
afternoon Lightning struck the house of
Nelson Hammond, a mile west Of Ashford Gen.
tire. Mrs. Hammond was killed, though there
were no signs of the lightning having entered
the room. Albert Hammond, aged twenty.
four years, was shocked in both arms and
still suffers terrible pain. Nelson Hammond
sustained shock from the effects Of which
he is now temporarily insane.
Waterbury, Conn: At Perryville, Sun
day afternoon, lightning struck James
Preston's barn, burning it to the ground.
The Catholic Church was also damaged to
the extent Of $500.
Wheeling, w. Va: The heaviest rain ever
experienced here fell this afternoon, over two
inches Of water falling in three-quarters OF
an hour. Many cellars and some first floors
were flooded. =
Easton, Penn: About twenty houses IN
Northampton County and eight in Warren
County, N. j., were damaged by lightning
Yesterday. The damage in Easton and South
Easton is estimated at s12,UO
Lancaster, Penn: During the heavy storm
last night the barn Of Eliza keist, in Penn
township, was struck by lightning ana de-
stroyed, with the crops of sixty acres and seY-
eral animals; loss, s5 1000. Mrs. Abram W.T.
mer, of Safe Harbor, while looking at the
fire, dropped dead from excitement Inc
bridge across the Port Deposit Railroad az
Octorara was washed away.
Reading. Penn: During last nights storm
lightning struck the barns of Aaron Yeager,
in Pike township, this county, and Daniel
Wensitler, near Hoppenville, Montgomery
county, half mile away, and both houses
were burned, together with the contents,
causing loss of $4,000.
Yates Centre, Kan. During the storm last
lT:.s C,Loob,, o;nhtaa,, vaoyc Of